Best Friends And Fellow Rakkasans Share Their Experiences From Florida To Phuoc Vinh

Harv Watson and Mike Ballard followed similar paths to Vietnam. They both commissioned through Officer Candidate School, and served as instructors at the Florida Ranger Camp with Charlie Beckwith. After deploying to Vietnam as individual replacements, they were assigned to D Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment after the bloody battle of March 18, 1968, outside Phuoc Vinh. When Mike married Nancy in Hawaii on R&R leave, Harv and his wife were there celebrating with the Ballards. They remain close friends to this day. In this interview, they describe their shared experiences and different perspectives on several battles they fought, and recall Mike’s wedding and celebration at a particularly noteworthy Don Ho concert.